Prosecutors refile charges in deadly Route 22 crash

Brian Creazzo, charged with homicide by vehicle in a May 13 crash in South Whitehall Township heads up to his preliminary hearing at the Lehigh County Courthouse in Allentown on Oct. 21.

Brian Creazzo, charged with homicide by vehicle in a May 13 crash in South Whitehall Township heads up to his preliminary hearing at the Lehigh County Courthouse in Allentown on Oct. 21. (MICHAEL KUBEL, THE MORNING CALL)

Lehigh County prosecutors have refiled charges against a man who was allegedly high on methadone and opiates when he crashed into and killed a man standing outside a car on Route 22 in South Whitehall Township, according to court records.

A Lehigh County district judge dismissed involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle and reckless endangerment charges against Brian J. Creazzo, 41, of Allentown during a preliminary hearing three months ago. The charges were refiled on Friday, according to court records.

During the Oct. 21 hearing, District Judge Michael D'Amore said prosecutors failed to prove that Creazzo displayed recklessness and gross negligence in the May 13 crash that killed Shane Uttard, 28, of Bethlehem Township and dismissed three of the more serious charges against him.

Creazzo, who remains in Lehigh County Jail, was still facing charges of homicide by vehicle while under the influence, accidents involving death while not properly licensed, driving under the influence, reckless endangerment and traffic summaries.

Authorities say Creazzo was driving home from his job in Kutztown around 3 p.m. that day and was merging from Route 309 to Route 22 when a car in front of him swerved, causing him to swerve.

Uttard was standing outside his car on the shoulder of the road when Creazzo slammed into him, pinning him between the vehicles, authorities said.

Toxicology tests later showed Creazzo was under the influence of methadone, opiates and hydroxozine. Police said a check of his medical records showed that Creazzo had not been prescribed any medication